The Rockies Horror Picture Show

Today’s word boys and girls is ‘Fundamental’, as in ‘Fundamental Baseball’. According to Merriam-Webster.com, the definition of fundamental is ‘of central importance, belonging to one’s innate or ingrained characteristics and one of the minimum constituents without which a thing or a system would not be what it is’.

The Cubs need to learn what this means. 7 runs on 14 hits, 10 LOB and a popped-up bunt. Several times today the Cubs had runners in scoring position with 1 out or less and failed to score. And what has become a mainstay for the 2005 season, allowing the other team to score runs with 2 outs.

In the bottom of the 5th, after the Cubs offense had made it 5-3 in the top of the inning, Maddux could not retire the side. He gave up a 2 run homer and a solo blast back to back(Holliday and Atkins) to make it 6-5 Rockies. Then in the 8th with 2 outs, Scott Williamson puts 2 on and then gives up a 3 run homer to Jorge Piedra, a pinch-hitter, a PINCH-HITTER. Unbelievable.

Nomar had a good day, 2 doubles. He should be hitting in the 2 spot. Harriston did well in the lead-off spot, 2 for 5. DLee(36) and ARam(31) both went deep in the 9th, this generation’s ‘Daily Double’. Burnie had a good series, hit his first homer(18) in almost a month today. It was just not enough.

Extra outs, extra outs and more extra outs. This is the main reason the Cubs are now 4 games under .500 and 6 1/2 back of the Wild Card. And how many times can Corey Patterson NOT do his job at the plate. The past 2 games, he has been up with the winning runs on base and has not even gotten the ball out of the infield. The Rockies even walked Barrett to get to Patterson in the 8th. Why does he refuse to shorten his swing? With 2 strikes a batter must shorten his stroke and make contact with the ball, putting his team above himself. NOT COREY. Corey is swinging for the fences everytime. Maddux gives up a home run on a bad pitch and gets visibly upset, Derrek Lee fails to get the runner home from 3rd and gets visibly upset, Patterson strikes out and shows no emotion.

Can Mr. Hendry get a group rate at the psych ward?

Monday – Carlos Zambrano(10-5/3.07) vs. Tim Hudson(9-5/3.45)

The Braves have shown the entire league how to win with young talent. At one point this year the Atlanta Braves looked like the Richmond Braves and they still won. Hopefully Baker and Hendry will have their notebooks with them for this series to take notes on how to motivate young players and utilize their talents. Like I’ve said before a manager can only put players in the right situation to be successful, but at the end of the day it is up to the players to be successful. Bobby Cox knows how to make them successful. The Cubs must play almost perfect ball against the Braves to sweep this series. The Braves starting pitching is their strength. For the Cubs to win, they must get to the bullpen. Allowing the Braves’ starters to get to the 7th or 8th is a recipe for a loss. The Cubs have 38 games left, 21 at home and 17 on the road.